Sign marker



Dec. 7 1926.

R. JORDAN SIGN MARKER Filed March 10. 1926 Patented Dec. "7, 1926.

UNITED stares RUSH JORDAN, OF WALLA W'ALLA, VTASHINGTON.

SIGN MARKER.

Application filed March 10, 1925.

This invention relates to sign markers and has as one of its objects to provide a sign mar er that is self contained.

Another'object of the invention is to provide a sign marker whose printing elements are self aligning.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sign marker that may be adapted as an educational toy.

VVith these and other objects in view reference is now had to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the marker with part of the cover broken away to show the constructional arrangement of the parts;

Fig. 2 is .a vertical section of the marker taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the printing elements;

Fig. .i is a perspective view of amodified form of case; and

s Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the modified form of case.

Having reference to the drawings like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and the numeral 1 refers to the sign marker as a whole and comprises a base 2 which may be constructed of any suitable material, that material having a weight suflicient to maintain the marker permanently when in use bein preferable. The base is rectangular in shape, preferably, and of suiiicient superficial area to conveniently accommodate the necessary characters which ordinarily are included in the alphabet, punctuation marks and numerals, etc.

On the base is constructed a guideway 3 which is formed between a pair of oppositely positioned rollers 4L pivotally mounted in said base, one of which said rollers having a crank handle 5 by which it may be rotated for a purpose to be explained, and a skirting 6 of a cover 7 that is secured in position in any suitable manner, as by screw 8 threadedly engaging plate 9 preferably welded to base 2.

In this guideway and in operable contact with the rollers 4 is a belt 10 operable in this guideway by which means it is obvious that the belt will be automatically aligned against a tendency for outward movement thereoi which might occur during the operation of the individual type units to be explained. Attached to the belt is a series of cases 11 each of which comprises a pan 12 that may be rectangular in form, the pan having Serial No. 93,589.

cleats 13 formed on its outer end, and having an extended portion 14 positioned periendicular to the pan for attachment to said belt, attachment being accomplished by means of a clip 15 or other suitable means. In the pan is provided an ink pad 16 of usual construction and hingedly mounted in the cleats 13, for movement thereon are arms 17 which arms carry a type unit 18 pivotally carried thereby. The cleats may be constructed as shown in Fig. 3 where the end 19 of the pan is raised and with its ends turned inward to form said cleats, or the cleats may be stamped out of the bottom of the pan and bent upward as shown in Fig. et and the arms may consist of a single wire suitably formed to hinge in the cleats and pivotally connect with the type unit, or the arms may consist of parallel arms 20 whereby the type unit will maintain its position with respect to the horizontal during its movement from the pan to the work, and a spring may be mounted upon said arms in a manner to automatically return the type unit to the pan after operation.

The type unit consists of the ordinary block upon the bottom of which is mounted the type face 21.

It will now be noted that a series of cases are utilized, that they are movably mounted on said belt, that they are permanently and flexibly joined by said belt, that the type unit may be yieldingly attached to said pan and that with the yielding means and with the type unit always returning to rest upon the ink pads they are self inking. The base 2 is provided with feet 22 which raises the base and supports it in a manner to provide a space beneath said base to provide for movement of the card 23 that will carry the printed matter and to maintain the card in a constant lateral position a guide 2 1 is provided having points engageable with holes 25 by which the guide may be detachably and adjustably attached to said base.

In action the card 23 is placed in position with its upper end beneath the base and with its left hand edge abutting the guide 24., the crank 5 is now rotated to bring the required character directly opposite to the position desired upon the card, the type unit carrying indicating characters upon its top surface wnereby movement of the crank may be stopped when the required type unit is brought to position for operation.

The type unit is then brought forward to a position upon the card by manual operation, the type unit. is then replaced and the movement of the crank continued to bring the next required letter into register in the proper position.

The guide may he obviously removed When not in use. By this meanssigns, posters, notices and the like may be produced, addresses may be obtained on boxes and packages or the printed matter may be accomplished Where the lettering desired is larger t-l n that used on typewriters, As an educational toy it can be made of lighter material and in cheap manner of construction and used in the training oi children and thus becomes more effective than the alphabet blocks used at present.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A. sign marker, a base, a series of movable type carrying cases lenibly joined together, and mounted on said base, and means for automatically aligning said cases.

2. in a sign marker, a base, a guideway provided in said base, a series of movable printing elements mounted in cases permanently and flexibly joined together, and mounted on said base, and means to automatically align said cases in said guideway o. in a sign marker, a base, a. guideway pro*-ri.ded in said base and comprising a pair of oppositely positioned pulleys and a c ver covering said guideway, a series of movable cases, carrying type units, permanently and flexibly joined together, and mounted in said guideway, and means to auton'iatically align said units.

i. In a sign marker, a base, a guidewa provided in said base, azbeltmovably mounted in said guideivay and a series of printing elements provided With ink pads, and can rying type units, permanently and flexibly joined together, and mounted on said belt.

5. A sign marker, a base, a guideWay provided in said base, a. belt movably mounted in said guideway, said guideway being arranged to maintain alignment of said belt, and aseries of cases mounted on said belt and provided with self-inking type units, hingedly attached therto.

6. In a sign marker, a base, a guideway provided in said base, .a belt movably mounted in said guideway, and a series of cases attached to said belt, each of said cases comprisin a. pan having an entended portic-n attachable to said belt, an ink pad mounted in said pan and a typeunit hingedis: attached to said pan.

T. In a sign marker, a base, av guideivay provided in said base, a belt movably iii-minted in said guideway, and a series of cases attached to said belt, each of said cases comprising a pan having cleats formed in its or end, and having an extended portion attachable'to said belt, an ink pad mounted in said pan, parallel arms yieldingly' and hingediy mounted insaid cleats for movements thereon, and a type unit carried by said parallel arms.

8. A sign ma "Ker, a base, means to provide a space beneath said base,a guideway provided in said base, said guideivay forming means to automatically align printing elements, a belt movably mounted in said gnideway, a series of movably mounted printimr elements, carrying type units,

T permanently and flexibly joined together and mounted on said belt, and a guide detachably attachable to said base.

in testimony whereofhe ariixes hissignw ture.

RUSH JORDAN. 

